Undergrad Support group

elisebutt65

studentphil wrote:

I still dont see the point in having tons of referencing. Surely it is hard enough to dell with and to understand one paper and then one or two reply papers without needing to go off and skim read tons of other books. I have never used more than 5 sources for an essay.

Earlier this year you were complaining about possibly only getting a 3rd in your degree.

I use an average of 20-40 per 2500/3000 word essay and I'm averaging 75% again this year.

Do you see the difference????

studentphil

elisebutt65 wrote:

Earlier this year you were complaining about possibly only getting a 3rd in your degree.

I use an average of 20-40 per 2500/3000 word essay and I'm averaging 75% again this year.

Do you see the difference????

Not really because my essays are only average/ very good because I am not outstanding at philosophy and not because I do not skim read lots of books. The average module Mark is 57 on my course and I am at least up to that or if not better in all my work, so can not be going far wrong.

elisebutt65

You don't need to skim read them!!!

I go through about 10-15 books per week for college. First you look at the contents page and the introductin and then find the relevent chapters - that's all you need to read - you don't need to read the whole thing!!

Mind you I also read about 8 books a week for leisure along with a couple of magazines and the Times everyday - lol.

Also the thing about books is that they are not current research!!! It takes at least 12 months to write and edit a book and then a another 12 top publish it so the knowledge is already 24 months old!!!

When I read, I get about 25-30% max of my knowledge from books. The rest comes from Journals, industry magazines, newspapers, TV programmes, and the internet(with reservations)

I can access most of the required journals online and they have the advantage over books, in that they are more up to date with current thinking and they are a lot shorter and easier to read.

Newspapers, esp the broadsheets are a great source of current knowledge as well. Some of my fellow students ask 'how come I know so much?' Cos I keep up with current affairs!!!!

It also helps that I've been around for 20 years longer than most of them but sometimes the lack of general knowledge does make me despair. We were discussing Nationalism and culture today and I was the only one in the lecture room that knew anything about the Elgin Marbles!!! !!!!!!??? We also had to identify what happened on certain dates, such as the end of the Napoleonic Wars, or as I put it; "When we spanked the French" LOL, treaty of Versailles and Utrecht, and the end of the Cold (Long) War.

I don't get how they just don't cover this stuff in secondary school anymore. I didn't even do a history O-level but I just know it????

Currently about to start an essay on Globalisation, Politics and Economics and how it will affect tourism so my bedtime reading is definiteley for insomniacs - lol

studentphil

Philosophy is far different to social sciences in that you can not use newspapers or the internet. It is reading 60 page article journals or nothing. I for one dont have the reading speed o to be able to read many many articles for an essay. Then you have to think about them and critic them- which takes a good deal of reflection time!

lisa_75

studentphil wrote:

Not really because my essays are only average/ very good because I am not outstanding at philosophy and not because I do not skim read lots of books. The average module Mark is 57 on my course and I am at least up to that or if not better in all my work, so can not be going far wrong.

I am not particularly bright. Writing a good essay is not about being clever or knowing a subject well, but giving the tutor what they want.

Have you looked into getting some study support? We all have long journal articles and books to read. It is not what you read but HOW you read it that counts. As Elise pointed out you NEVER read the whole book or journal article, that would be madness. I read a book/ journal a little, extract a couple of points from it, then move onto the next one. I have been marked down for using “classic” texts and not reading widely enough. You say you are averaging 57%, which is fine, but have your tutors never explained how you can get better marks? I have advised several friends who wanted to improve their essays. Reading widely and being spot on with referencing never fails and can easily add another 10% to your marks.

studentphil

lisa_75 wrote:

I am not particularly bright. Writing a good essay is not about being clever or knowing a subject well, but giving the tutor what they want.

Have you looked into getting some study support? We all have long journal articles and books to read. It is not what you read but HOW you read it that counts. As Elise pointed out you NEVER read the whole book or journal article, that would be madness. I read a book/ journal a little, extract a couple of points from it, then move onto the next one. I have been marked down for using “classic” texts and not reading widely enough. You say you are averaging 57%, which is fine, but have your tutors never explained how you can get better marks? I have advised several friends who wanted to improve their essays. Reading widely and being spot on with referencing never fails and can easily add another 10% to your marks.

In fact, wider reading is never a criticism I get!
I always get told off for lack of clear expression and use of English of clear English.

John_Davros_Cooper

In terms of presentations I have found the best is the following...
1) Spend a few weeks reading, reading, reading (this means you have lots of info for the post-presentation questions and shows knowledge far beyond what you have to present)
2) Write out a line of argument and then re-write it as you try and write out your script.
3) translate the script into notice cards sized...
4) Put your key points into Powerpoint, using graphs etc if necessary
5) Present the presentation to a friend one week before hand. Provide them with the marking criteria (as you can get) and see what they think and take theri critiscism
6) Do your re-working
7) enjoy the week upto the presentation topping and tailing knowing no-one is perfect but your massivly ahead of most of the class
8) Kick !!! in your presentation


Now if anyone can tell me where to find £500 I woudl be more than obliged. I earnt too much so can't get back the tax I was hoping to...

Regards
John

Final year undergrad student!

elisebutt65

Is there anyone else here who HATES presentations???

I hate them with a vengeance!!!!!

In my final year and we have to do Sled's or Student Led Discussions - oh Blehhhh!!! Hate these as well!!!

I'm not bad at them, just hate doing them and I have a major one to do next semester when we do Strategic Management in a group!!

Used to really hate group work as well but now we're third years, they trust us to form our own groups unlike the last two years when they seemed to delight in putting us into groups designed to cause maximum personality clash!!!! Now we can form our own [STRIKE]cliques[/STRIKE] groups;) and it's much easier as we all seem to find our own levels IYKWIM?? Ie you get the thick groups who never do anything until the last minute, the mediocre groups who really try hard, and then the groups who start work the day they get the assignment and all turn up to practice and get their act together(guess which one I'm in)

I was in a group last year with 2 girls who'd been friends forever since they got made refugees from Bosnia and they were so awful to work with and in the end I was the only one who got the grade on the assignment as they didn't bother to do any work on it AT ALL!!!!

Basil_Fawlty

We have to do presentations firstly, one on a random topic assigned to us, that lasts 12 mins and questions 3 minutes :eek: then a "colloqium" lasting 10 mins (we're not allowed to use powerpoint, just 2 OHP sheets!!:eek: ) and questions 2 minutes. Also a report on the progress of our dissertation lasting ~10 minutes. All before Christmas!!

I find when I'm doing a presentation, even if it's in front of the lecturer and the 10 other students in my year whom I get on with well, I still get nervous, I can't seem to speak very loudly, and I can't usually answer questions under pressure. I don't know if there's a way to deal with this

studentphil

Presentations:

Key is not to just re read your OHT sheets as that is what lots of people do and it makes it rubbish.